Novel Full The barest hint of a smile appeared on his face. ‘Such a silly little girl can attract hundreds of birds with her music. She seems to have become a little bit more intelligent.’
Gazing at Murong Xue with a complicated expression on his face, he never knew that she could play such melodious rhythms with leaves. Is it really the little contact he made with her that resulted in his lack of acquaintance with her talent and abilities?
Mu Liufeng leaned against the back of his chair, swept his teasing glance over Ouyang Shaochen and Ye Yichen, and finally set eyes on Murong Xue. He thought to himself, ‘It is truly disturbing to think that someone else is secretly falling for your talented, unrequited lover.’
However, he was a little taken aback that Murong Xue could do such an incredible thing as attracting hundreds of birds with the music she played. The only reason he was not chasing after her was that Ouyang Shaochen had been carrying the torch for her.
Bathing in soft, golden sunshine, Murong Xue gently held the leaf in her hand. With her tune gradually fading away, the birds scattered regardless of the surprised look on people’s faces, flapped their wings and flew away, leaving unrestrained figures.
The crowd fixed their gaze on the empty air, shocked, and unable to settle back to their concentration for a long time.
‘Brilliant!’ A burst of scream burst out in the square. Civil and military ministers as well as members of the imperial house repeatedly praised with newly-awakened surprise. ‘ Birds heard her music, and came hovering with its rhythm on a pilgrimage. What a breathtaking spectacle!’
‘Absolutely! An old fellow like me have lived most of my life, and it is the first time that I have seen birds attracted by the melody. How incredible!’
‘Now that I have experienced this wonderful view, death shall find me ready.’
‘Birds only respond to melodious tunes. The music Miss Murong played is angelic.’
‘Eh-hem, Miss Su is also playing, so could it be her who attracted all those birds?’
‘Come on! Haven’t you noticed that the birds came after Miss Murong modified the tune?’
‘Haven’t you seen that they have been hovering over Miss Murong’s head all the time?’
‘Haven’t you noticed that they have been changing the formation in correspondence with the tune Miss Murong played?’
‘I haven’t heard Miss Su play since the birds came.’
‘Exactly! Her music was completely drowned by the flapping of birds’ wings.’
‘Could you hear what Miss Su played clearly after the birds came?’
‘I’m afraid I didn’t.’
‘Then why did you say that it was her who attracted all those birds?’
There was enough discussion to be heard by all at the table. Su Nanxiang turned paler than white momentarily, her eyes gleaming with hatred.
She planned this ensemble of the Chinese zither and bamboo flute painstakingly, with the purpose of showing much better she was than Murong, humiliating her in the full blaze of publicity, and proving to the heir of Lord Ouyang that she has outdistanced Murong in all senses. But now, she seems to be the one humiliated.
Attracting a flock of idiot birds with a filthy leaf? What’s the big deal, anyway?
Look at all those ministers, praising Murong and holding her in high esteem. What a bunch of vulgar morons!
‘Play such angelic music with only a leaf! How impressive! Xue, my darling, who taught you how to play? ‘ The Empress raised a question out of the blue as she looked at Murong Xue, her eyes shining with doubt and admiration.
Murong Xue gave a salute to the Empress and smiled. ‘ Your Majesty, I used to whistle with leaves at leisure during my childhood. And the whistle naturally became a tune as time went by. Nobody has ever taught me!
As a matter of fact, it was the birds’ chirps used as modern-day secret signals, the lifelike birdsong she integrated into the tune that drew the birds’ attention.
‘You became talented through self-instruction? How intelligent!’ said the Empress blandly, her eyes filled with admiration.
Murong Xue smiled politely, ‘ You have overpraised me, Your Majesty!’
‘She has eminent parents like the Country-guarding Marquis and Marquise, so it is no wonder that self-education would suffice.’ The Emperor glanced at Murong Xue and delivered a prompt comment, his eyes gleaming with expressions that no one else could understand.
The Empress nodded and agreed,’ That makes sense. Xue looks like her mother. She must have also inherited her intelligence and talent.’
Su Nanxiang suddenly turned pale. She sneaked a look at Ouyang Shaochen. He was sipping from the jade glass in his hand, his eyes quietly fixed on Murong Xue with a glimmer of smile. The anger in Su’s heart flared up after seeing this, and she clenched her fists under her sleeves.
Murong Xue! It is all about Murong Xue!
Everyone is talking about her! The Emperor and Empress are full of praise for her, and the heir of Lord Ouyang has eyes only for her! What on earth is so remarkable in her behavior that makes all of them think highly of her?
She was the most accomplished lady in Qingyan Kingdom! She would never allow herself to be defeated by Murong Xue! Never!
Su Nanxiang’ s eyes glimmered with hatred. Grinding her teeth, she tried her utmost to come up with an idea of defeating Murong Xue.
A young eunuch hurried up to the emperor and said in a respectful voice, ‘ Your Majesty, an emissary from Nan Jiang begs for an audience!’
The noisy square was instantly silent, and people stood gazing at one another with a dignified look. When did the emissary from Nan Jiang come to Qingyan Kingdom? Instead of going to the capital, they had come directly to the summer resort to be presented at the Emperor. How well-informed they were!
The Emperor’s eyes slightly narrowed as he raised his voice,’ Let him in!’
‘Aye!’ The eunuch responded, and shouted towards the other side of the square, ‘ Please present yourself to our Emperor, emissary from Nan Jiang!’
An emissary from Nan Jiang?
Murong Xue squinted as images of those fearless men of sacrifice in her courtyard sprang to her mind. People from Nan Jiang are mysterious, and they have strange hobbies, which includes their favourites, witchcraft and poison made from insects.
The only contact she had ever made with people from Nan Jiang ever since she came to Qingyan Kingdom had been with Dark Knights of Sacrifice, and she has never seen real citizens of Nan Jiang. So she wanted to know how they look.
As she looked up at the entrance, a young gentleman walked in. He was about 20 years old, with a comely appearance and skin almost transparent. The invisible but unholy aura around him served as a foil to his scarlet eyes with brown pupils.
His black damask gown was perfectly tailored and embroidered with large red bauhinias which bloomed proudly like blood, suggesting a mysterious, weird and gloomy rendering.
The sight of him made the debutantes’ flesh creep. Their eyelids twitched as they thought to themselves,’ this emissary looks insidious. It is disturbing even just to look at him. He must be extremely dangerous.’
Ignoring the gaze of all people, the gentleman walked straight to the platform and leaned slightly forward,’ Your Majesty, Cang Qiong is here to pay my respects!’
Yuan Fangfei’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘So that’s Cang Qiong!’
Murong Xue blinked and looked askance at Yuan Fangfei, ‘You have heard of him before?’